Dante
August 25th, 2007, 10:47 PM
Six Dead After Truck Slams Wedding Party
AP
Posted: 2007-08-25 19:35:19
Filed Under: World News (http://news.aol.com/world)
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. (Aug. 24) - A colorful pre-wedding celebration at the home of a bride's parents was shattered Friday night when a pickup truck slammed into a crowd of revelers, killing six.
Nineteen people were injured and 14 ambulances were scrambled to the scene as the celebrations for today's wedding turned into horror.
Const. Casey Vinet, of Abbotsford Police, said at a news conference Saturday that one of the senior officers with more than 20 years experience said it was "the most difficult scene that he's ever witnessed."
Police are questioning the 71-year-old driver of the pickup truck that struck the group from behind. He is in shock, Vinet said.
Investigators are still trying to piece together what happened, but have ruled out drugs or alcohol as a cause.
The road where the accident took place is a rural road with no lighting.
The injured ranged in age from four months to their 50's. The dead are three men and three women ranging in age from their mid-teens to their 50's.
Ivar Lee, who lives down the road from the house hosting the party, said he drove past earlier in the evening and saw tents, patio lights and dozens of people dressed in party clothes on the host's property.
Cars lined both sides of the street and crammed the front lawn.
He said he sat in his backyard and listened to the music from the party, happy that his neighbors, who he doesn't know well, were having such a celebration.
He estimated there were well over 100 people at the party.
"We were real happy for them," Lee said.
"All of a sudden the music stopped and we heard sirens coming and then we heard more sirens and more sirens and then a helicopter showed up and then a second helicopter showed up."
Lee said he couldn't see the accident and police quickly blocked off the road.
"It was rather frightening, actually. We feel terrible for the people who must be affected by this," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Fraser health Authority said the injuries range from cuts and bruises to broken bones, but she wasn't sure if any suffered internal injuries.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-08-25 18:04:42
AP
Posted: 2007-08-25 19:35:19
Filed Under: World News (http://news.aol.com/world)
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. (Aug. 24) - A colorful pre-wedding celebration at the home of a bride's parents was shattered Friday night when a pickup truck slammed into a crowd of revelers, killing six.
Nineteen people were injured and 14 ambulances were scrambled to the scene as the celebrations for today's wedding turned into horror.
Const. Casey Vinet, of Abbotsford Police, said at a news conference Saturday that one of the senior officers with more than 20 years experience said it was "the most difficult scene that he's ever witnessed."
Police are questioning the 71-year-old driver of the pickup truck that struck the group from behind. He is in shock, Vinet said.
Investigators are still trying to piece together what happened, but have ruled out drugs or alcohol as a cause.
The road where the accident took place is a rural road with no lighting.
The injured ranged in age from four months to their 50's. The dead are three men and three women ranging in age from their mid-teens to their 50's.
Ivar Lee, who lives down the road from the house hosting the party, said he drove past earlier in the evening and saw tents, patio lights and dozens of people dressed in party clothes on the host's property.
Cars lined both sides of the street and crammed the front lawn.
He said he sat in his backyard and listened to the music from the party, happy that his neighbors, who he doesn't know well, were having such a celebration.
He estimated there were well over 100 people at the party.
"We were real happy for them," Lee said.
"All of a sudden the music stopped and we heard sirens coming and then we heard more sirens and more sirens and then a helicopter showed up and then a second helicopter showed up."
Lee said he couldn't see the accident and police quickly blocked off the road.
"It was rather frightening, actually. We feel terrible for the people who must be affected by this," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Fraser health Authority said the injuries range from cuts and bruises to broken bones, but she wasn't sure if any suffered internal injuries.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-08-25 18:04:42